Pneumatically-operated musical instrument.



No. 882,623. PATENTED MAR. 24,1908.

TIP. BROWN PNBUMATIGALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

- APPLICATION. FILED m. 7. 1907.

- 2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

8. 1 ma I UNITED srarns PATENTOFFICE.

THEODORE P. BROWN, OF WORCESTER PLAYER COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAS Specification of Letters. Patent.

PNEUMATICALLY-OPERATED' MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Application flled January 7, 1907. Serial No. 351,098.

To whom it may concern.

Be it knownthat' I, THEODORE P. BROWN,

a citizen of the. United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Pneumatically-Operated Musical Instrument, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of musical lnstruments either self playing ones or playing devices for ordinary instruments which are operated or controlled pneumatically.

The principal objects thereofare topro-- vide for constructing the various parts in such a way that they will be readily remov quick assemblage of the parts.

Another object of the nvention is to provide readily removable couplings for the different pipes and tubes so as to assist in the metrics and ready dismantling or displacingofth'e sev eral parts of the device; also to rovide an improved bleeding arrangement or the pria permanently divided windchest.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

For a disclosure of a device constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 is an end'elevation partly in section showing one embodiment of the inven tion. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same partly in section. Fig. 3 is a sectionalv view of one of the secondaries on the line 33 of Fig. 2. FigJA is a side elevation of one of the second arise with the parts shown se arated. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of one o the primaries on the line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 isfa side elevation of the same, the parts being shown separated. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the bleedercartridge shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 8 is a plan of the permanently divided wind chest.

This invention is illustrated as being used with an'instrument having a tracker'bar 10,

each of the air channels 11 of which is conheated by a tube l2 with an individual channel 13 in a channel boi; or the like 14. Each of these channels communicates through a.

tube 15 with a primary valve box lfi. These valve boxes may be arranged in many ways, and they are shown as arranged in sections of three. Each one is su ported merely by a set of. pipes 170 whic constitute .sucti'on chambers for the primaries... Each of these primaries has an inlet 17 with which the cor responding tube' 15 communicates, this inlet being shown in the form of a metal pipe sec tion screwed into an o ening in the bottom section 18 of the valve box. This section 18 has an upwardly extending flange 19 provided withfjan internal screw thread into which a cap piece 20 adapted to be screwed.

Between the seat inside 'thefiange' 19 and the bottom of the capiece,the-edges of the leather or other diap agm 21 are laced, and the diaphragm is held in position by screwing the cap intorthe bottom section of the box. 5 This construction provides for holding the diaphragm securely in position without the use of adhesives so that in case of any. trouble with the primary, the parts. ma be disassembled in a very easy manner, an the diaphragm removed, replaced or cleaned as may be desired} h It has been stated that the primary boxes.

are supported by the pipes 170whioh con stitute wind-chests therefor. These are shown as being arranged in three sections,

but they can be arranged in any desired way, and they communicate'with a suction chamher at one end, or with one at each end as may be desired, It will be seen that thesepipes open into a main chamber in each of the valve boxes above the diaphragm 21, so that when the parts are in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, the source of suction will communicate with a a tube 23 with which each of the valve boxes is rovided.

henair is admitted through the passages 11, 12, 13 15 and 17 to the underside of the diaphragm 21 the latter comepassage 22 through uently rise and lift a valve 24 which will s u't oif the tube 23 from communication with the suction, and admit atmospheric'air thereto. This tube is preferably in the form of a metal piping, and it communicates with a pipe section 25 which extends from one of the leaves of the corresponding operating pneumatic 26. The two plipe sections 23 and 25 are connected toget er by a flexible tube 27 which is preferabl of rubber, so that the parts can readily e disconnected from each other. The pipe section communicates through a passage 28 with the lower chamber 29 of the secondary valve box 5 30. The construction of this valve box is .lated independently of each other. The

shown as very similar to that of the primary valve box.

The chamber 29 is formed by-a bottom section similar to the bottom section 18, and 20 the diaphragm 31 is clamped into the same by means of an upper section 32. The dia phragm 31 operates .a valve 33 tocontrol the passage of air through an outlet pipe 34. he chamber in the upper section of this 5 valve-box above the diaphragm communicates through a pipe section 35 with a ipe section 36 which extends from a wind 0 est 37. Two pipe sections 35 and 36 are connected by rubber or other flexible tube 38, so that the parts can be readily disassembled.

Where the sections and 36 are not in line,

the tubes 38 are bent or curved as is shown at the upper and lower parts of Fig. 1. In the interest of com actness a con- 35 struction is provided in wiich the several pipes which are connected with each valve ox are in the same plane. This can be done, in the primary va ve box fpr example, by passing the pipes 170/ into the main ,chamber in the upper box section 16, and passing-the pipe 23 through this chamber mto the inner chamber or passage 22. It will be seen however by reference to Fig. 2 that the upper chambers of both the primary and secondary valve-boxes are shown as rovided witlrhorse-shoe shaped extensions.

hese are foxthe purpose of permitting the oppositely extending pipes 17 to communicate with this chamber, and to permit the 5 pipe 23 to extend through to the inner chamber in the valve box. A

It will be noted that the secondary valve box is mounted by means of its lower section 29 in a removable manner on the outside of one leaf of the pneumatic 26, so that the parts thereof are readily accessible, and so that it can be removed or repaired without dismantling any of the portions of the pneumatic itself.

Each of the pipe sections 34 is connected with a pipe section 40 extending from the leaf of the pneumatic by means of a rubber tube 41 for a purpose similar to that de-' scribed above. The pneumatics themselves are mounted in a sort of metallic frame-work tube as shown in big. 8 having a closed end,

and each communicating with a wind-supply or storage device 45. One of these parts 18 connected with the bass neumatics and the other with the treble neumatics. As they are entirely separate from each other the bass and treble can be accented or modugo Pneumatics are shown as connected with the action in a well-known manner, and it will be understood that this connection does not constitute a part of this invention, and may be varied to suit; any requirements. F orthe pur 'ose of bleeding the primary neumatics eac of the passages 13 is connected by a pipe section 46 with a ipe section 47, all of w 'ch communicate wit a single passage 48 which may be located in the channel box 14 or elsewhere. This passage 48 has an outlet which is provided with a tube 49 connected with the bellows.

The .pipe sections 46 and 47 are shown as 5 connected together by a readily removable flexible tube 50 which can readily be removed from both of the sections. In this tube is mounted a bleeder shell 51 having a pinhole 52 as is well understood for bleedingpurposes; The objects of this construction are .to provide for effectively bleeding all of the prima Pneumatics, and at thesame time .to provi e convenient means for kee ing the passages clear. If any one of the s ell pinholes 52 is 5 I found to be clogged' u the corres onding .tube 50 can be remove and the shelFreadily cleaned out, or if all or a large number of themaresto pedu ,air canbeforcedthrough all of them rom t e tube 49 so as to remove the obstructions from them.

It ill be seen that provision is made for manufacturing the parts of'the primary and secondary pneumatic valve boxes of metal, preferably cast metal, so as to simplify and chcapen the construction, and at the same time to provide for locating thesepartp' in such away that they are all readily ace sible and removable. Moreover by this on-. struction, the diaphragms are not only removably mounted but the use of an adhesive which permanently fixes them in position is avoided. Moreover, the pipe sections are in most cases formed by metallic pipes which are joined at some convenient point by flexi- 126 ble rubber tubing which can be removed'in a most simple and convenient manner 40"" separate the parts. Moreover, the pneumatics are also removably mounted in position so that each one is individually remov- 130 able either with or without its corresponding valve boxes. The bleedlng arrangement is similarly constructed, and can be cleaned in such a way that all the cartridges can be operated upon simultaneously, or each one can be attended to individually. Further more the wind-chests are permanently separated so that a different degree of tension can be secured in each one, whereby the treble and bass can be differently accente'd and: modulated, and in general, the construction is greatly simplified and chea ened, and the parts rendered more accessi le for repairs and replacements;

I am aware that many modifications may be made in the forms of the invention illus trated and described inthe drawings, without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims, and consequently I do not wish to be limited to the particular form shown, but

What I do claim is v 1.. In a pneumatic musical instrument, the combination of an operating pneumatic, and a secondary valve box removably mounted on one of the leaves thereof.

2. In a pneumatically controlled musical instrument, the combination of an operating pneumatic, a valve box mounted on the outside thereof, and removable means :for connecting the pneumatic with the valve box, whereby air may pass from one to the other. 3. In a musical instrument, the combination of an operating pneumatic, a valve box mounted on one of the leaves thereof, and a connection between the valve box and the interior of the pneumatic, comprising a pipe section connected with the valve box, a pipe section connected with the pneumatic, and

- a flexible tube connecting sald pipe sections.

' 4. In a musical instrument, the combination of an operating pneumatic, a valve box mounted on the outside of one of the leaves thereof, removable means for connecting the interior of the valve box with the/interior of r they pneumatic, said. means being accessible fromthe outside of the pneumatic and valve box, a Wind-chest, and removable means for connecting the wind-chest with the valvebox.

5. In a musical instrument, the combination with an operating pneumatic,of'a valve box mounted. on the outside of one of the leav es thereof, removable means for connectinga chamber of the valve box with the interior of the pneumatic, a pipe section extending from the interior of the valve box, a wind-chest having a pi c section extending therefrom, and .a flexible tube connecting said pipe sections.

6. In amusical instrument, the, combination of a series of valve boxes, a series of operating pneumatics connected therewith, a tubular wind-chest having pipe sections extending therefrom in different directions/and flexible removable tubes for connecting the pipe sections with said valve boxes.

7. Ina musical instrument, the combina 7 tion of a series of operatin neumatics, a secondary valve box remova 1y mounted on the leaf of each pneumatic and connected with'the interior thereof, separate non-com municating pipes, each constituting a suction chamber, and means for removably connecting each of said pipes with certain of said valve-boxes. A

8. In a musical instrument, the combination of operating pneumatics, valve boxes, a wind-chest consisting of two non-communicating tubes placed end to] end and independently supported, said tubes being con nected with said pneumatics, said valve ing a tu ular main wind-chest, consisting of two non-communicating independently supported tubes placed end to end. I I r 10. In a musical instrument, the corribinaI-m ,tion of a wind chest consisting of two separate pipes, a plurality of secondary va ve boxes connected with said pipes, an operat-I ing pneumatic for each :of said valve boxes, said' pneumatics, each having a passage therein communicating with the corresponding valve box, a pipe (extending from said passage, and a primar valve box re ovably connected with said pipe.

1 1. In a musical instrument, the combina tion of a series of operating pneumatics with a .corres onding series of metallic valve boxes removably mounted on said pneumatics and communicating with the interior thereof, each comprising a bottom section and a top section, one of said sections being adapted to be screwed into the other, said sections having meeting square surfaces, and a diaphragm held between said surfaces. I

i 12. 'A pneumatic musical instrument hav-, ing a plurality of metallic primary valve boxes, and suction pipes screwed .into, the walls of, and supporting, said boxes.

13. In a pneumatically controlled musical instrument, the combination with a tracken bar and primary valve boxes, of a channel box having channels, each communicating with a passage in the trackenbar of the in strument, and each communicating with a primary valve box, and a bleeder connected with each of said channels, said channel box havin a channel communicating with all f 1 said b eeders,'said bleeders each comprising a} removable tubular shell. y

14. In a pneumatically controlled musical instrument, the combination with a trackerbar and primary valve boxes, of a channel box having a channel for each of the trackerprovided with a trans- 1 a bleeder ITQCl'HlIliSDl? i channels, a series of metallic pi es communicating with the single chan'ne, a flexible each of the first named pipes second series of pipes, and a g of said flexible connections. l

tube connecting with one of the bleeder in each 16. A bleeder device for a pneumatically controlled musical instrument havin channels, a series of tubular bleeder she Is, the end of each having a pin-hole, means for connecting each of said shells with one of said channels, and a channel with which all of said shells are connected.

In testimony whereof I have'hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THEODORE P. BROWN.

Witnesses LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE, C. FORREST WESSON. 

